PHILIP Hammond has hinted he will reassure highly skilled EU migrants and promise they will still be welcome after Brexit.

Philip Hammond indicated before the Treasury Select Committee that may introduce a visa scheme

The Chancellor is working on a deal that will restrict the number of low-skilled migrants entering the UK – while skilled workers such as bankers, computer programers and senior managers may be exempt from the tougher migration laws.

The 60-year-old said before the Treasury Select Committee yesterday that a vote to leave the bureaucratic Brussels bloc was not a vote to limit “computer programers, brain surgeons, bankers, senior managers" working in Britain.

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The "targeted visa scheme" proposed by Theresa May's Government is a move away from the EU's key principle of the free movement of people – which currently gives the right for any of the 510million people for EU member states to move, live and work in the UK.

Mr Hammond claimed the public had told the Government "loudly and clearly" they wanted migration levels to be brought under control with the Brexit vote.

In the clearest indication yet that a visa system would be implemented, Mr Hammond said: "It’s very clear to me they are not talking about computer programers, brain surgeons, bankers, senior managers, or possibly students.”

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“They are talking about people competing for entry level jobs with people in the U.K. who perhaps have a level of skills that means they only have access to those kinds of jobs.”

The Chancellor refused to give assurances to banks who were worried by the loss of "passporting rights" – which allows them to operate under one set of rules and regulations with other member nations.

Mr Hammond did urge EU nations to "start from scratch" and secure trade deals with Britain that "works for both partners".

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Mr Hammond hints bankers and other skilled industries will be allowed to come to Britain

He also took a thinly veiled swipe at ministers who have been calling for May to commit to a hardline Brexit stance.

Mr Hammond added: “I would say that those that are undermining the effort are those that are seeking to close down that negotiating space, seeking to arrive at hard decisions that we don’t need to make at this stage.”

“Keeping as many areas open, as many options open at this stage, is the key to the strongest negotiating hand.”